Thoothukudi Sterlite plant to shut down after TN’s Pollution Control Board's order

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has ordered the closure of Sterlite Copper Smelter plant in Thoothukudi with immediate effect on Thursday. The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board also disconnected the power supply to Sterlite smelter plant on the recommendations from TNPCB. So far, thirteen people were killed while over 70 people are undergoing treatment in a police action in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin after months-long protests for the closure of Vedanta's Sterlite Copper unit in the port city over pollution concerns turned violent Police arrested 67 rioters for indulging in large-scale violence in the area and section 144 is in place around SIPCOT PS limits where Sterlite factory is located. There have been widespread protests against the establishment and operation of the Sterlite copper smelting plant since the mid-90s as the residents were demanding its closure alleging that it was polluting the area, and leading to severe health problems besides depleting the water table. The National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has found evidence that Sterlite has contaminated the groundwater, air and soil.